Today’s City Weekly in the Globe talks about the gentrification of Cambridge.

The abolition of rent control six years ago has hollowed out the middle class in Cambridge. The ‘’People’s Republic of Cambridge'’ still maintains 17 percent of its housing stock for government-subsidized, low-income residents, but now, it also boasts the highest concentration of million-dollar homes of any large city in the nation.

The article quotes many residents adversely affected by this trend. As it turns out, this is the worst thing the author could have done, because, while I sympathize with these folks’ plight, they sound incredibly whiny.

To Erik Brown, a 28-year-old musician who grew up nearby on Cottage Street, the yuppies think they own the street. ‘’They got their little Saabs, and their little additions to their houses, and they come in with their little attitudes,'’ he said. ‘’These people who are fairly new to the neighborhood think their buck can buy respect here, but we’ve been here since Day One. They have to earn their membership in the neighborhood.

The article also discusses the Central Kitchen and the Enormous Room, businesses succeeding by adapting to new conditions. Some businesses refuse to adapt, and are now indignant about having to pay the price.

At the store [Magazine Spa], where Hostess Twinkies, Cap’n Crunch cereal and Slim Jim beef sticks still line the shelves - despite a growing demand for organic breads, fruits, and specialty products - owner Joe Sordillo says his sales are down 40 percent. … But Sordillo refuses to change his products to cater to the upscale market.

While I enjoy being demonized — people like me who move into town and screw everyone over with my tax payments, my support of the local businesses (Central Square Florist, 1369 Coffee House, Koreana, ABC Pizza, Rodney’s Books, etc.) who carry products I like, and my quiet neighborliness — I don’t see myself as the bad guy here.

Also, I really don’t want to sound like a math snob, but it’s hard to take seriously an economic argument forwarded by a man buying scratch tickets.

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 6th, 2003 at 8:51 am and is filed under Cambridge. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Today’s City Weekly in the Globe talks about the gentrification of Cambridge.

The abolition of rent control six years ago has hollowed out the middle class in Cambridge. The ‘’People’s Republic of Cambridge'’ still maintains 17 percent of its housing stock for government-subsidized, low-income residents, but now, it also boasts the highest concentration of million-dollar homes of any large city in the nation.

The article quotes many residents adversely affected by this trend. As it turns out, this is the worst thing the author could have done, because, while I sympathize with these folks’ plight, they sound incredibly whiny.

To Erik Brown, a 28-year-old musician who grew up nearby on Cottage Street, the yuppies think they own the street. ‘’They got their little Saabs, and their little additions to their houses, and they come in with their little attitudes,'’ he said. ‘’These people who are fairly new to the neighborhood think their buck can buy respect here, but we’ve been here since Day One. They have to earn their membership in the neighborhood.

The article also discusses the Central Kitchen and the Enormous Room, businesses succeeding by adapting to new conditions. Some businesses refuse to adapt, and are now indignant about having to pay the price.

At the store [Magazine Spa], where Hostess Twinkies, Cap’n Crunch cereal and Slim Jim beef sticks still line the shelves - despite a growing demand for organic breads, fruits, and specialty products - owner Joe Sordillo says his sales are down 40 percent. … But Sordillo refuses to change his products to cater to the upscale market.

While I enjoy being demonized — people like me who move into town and screw everyone over with my tax payments, my support of the local businesses (Central Square Florist, 1369 Coffee House, Koreana, ABC Pizza, Rodney’s Books, etc.) who carry products I like, and my quiet neighborliness — I don’t see myself as the bad guy here.

Also, I really don’t want to sound like a math snob, but it’s hard to take seriously an economic argument forwarded by a man buying scratch tickets.

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 6th, 2003 at 5:51 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.